New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-24
THE THISTLE AND THE CUP
HER RIGHT TO COMPETE QUESTIONED.

For the first time in the history o! international yacht
contests suggestion that there has not been square
| JooIv on the part OF the chaenaers has caused
ruter Publicity has been given to the possibility oa
protest on the ground that the Thistes waterne length
lisa roDt and half more than was stated III challenge
| The deed of gift under which the New-York Yacht
Club holds the Americas Cup requires that the owners
OF the challenging yacht shall give six months notice
OF their intention to compete and that accompanying
the six months, notice there must be Custom House
certificate OF the measurement aud statement OF the
dimensions rig aud value OF the vessel In accoruahos
with this the Thstles forwarded the necessary
figures, giving her waterne length as about eghtyhys
feet Mr. Hyslop the ficia measurer Of the Ncwfork
Yacht Club after applying the tape line to her she
was oaed into the dr. dock reported In his statement
OF her Dimensions that her waterlne length was t3
feet.
That there was something more than mere rumor in
fine report that action be taken by some one who
felt aggrIeyed a discrepancy was proved at CON-
miftee meeting held yesterday afternoon in cxCommo
dore Smiths Office, in Broadst. There were present
Commodore Gerry, ex-Commodore Smith, Nlce-commo-
dore c. c. Haight and c. L. Haigh ]. 5. DicAerson and
! William Krebs, of the Americas Cup Committee; q.
Korrignt and s. Peabody, of the Newfork Yacht Club
Committee; Mr. Bell and Mr.. Watson, OF the Thistle;
Secretary William Yorke, Of the Royal Yacht Ciuo ana
General Paine, or the Volunteer True there was no
formal protest. but undoubtedly the point came up
which n member OF the NewYork Yacht ClnD was YES
terday reported to have said the committee would DO
fnv u.ted in raising by the observed by the
Thistle people in the building OF the yacht ana Their sub
! sequent attitude in regard to her dimcnsiona The
meeting remained in session for about two hours. At
| the close Commodore Gerry told TRIBUNE
| porter that it had been held arrange the pre-
| lninaries of the race, api that these had been
| satisfactorily and amcahly settled; but that one
point remained 10 be decided ar full meeting
OF both committees to be held to-day What that point
WA he would not tell; but he emphaticay denied that
any one and least of all General Paine. had entered
| protest.
MR. BELL GREATLY SURPRISED.
From the conversation OF several gentlemen who had
been At meeting and were met by the reporter IN tue
course OF the afternoon could easily be gathered that
| tine point on which the Commodore was aticcnt was
that of the waterline measurement. II appears that
ex.Commodore smith. WHO was picSldins ploluccda
letter and various elegtdms calling his dsteh1 IA 10 ie
matter. which WAS thus brought To the notice OF the
meeting and OF Mr.. Bell. on Mr.. Bell It came with
! force of an almost overwhelming blow. He mad read
| something about it in Tie Bocd, but mindful OF thtt
iournal, connection with divers hat paid no aten.
ton To- il.
"Icanuot tell you how deeply felt when found that
the affair WAS actually made the ground for complaint
aid he 70 The re porter We have been III along tryn,
T., deal 50 fairly AMI in sUci an aboyeboard mlnnar
with cur opponents that Wa really stI.ge.ei What
do we care for the intrinsic value ~ the cup that We
should he subjected to suspicion oil adopting Other
tina, fair means 20 possession Of II The raccisa
trial OF boats What we want to decide is. wn'cn Is tho
hotter boat irrespective OF the fact OF gaining ths
trophy which might BE- a Of RIBBON a. well as an
thing else. And just ~ anxious TO see which
boat in equal and honorable test - any one
Interested is # We sail will be procession
can tell YOU We will work 80 lolS as we can ',aal'
and to best boat the race will 90 but "n Know
that every one j., satisfied the Thistle shall TO start
IN rcgarl to this water line measurement NAV tell
Won that the rules under wach CHALLENGED are not At
all explicit III regard u forwarding ths particular meas.
ur,,nrnt So ftras Ia ,crstool. were pt re urel
II rfp fl.fl me-
was launched got Mr. Watson to calculate near Il 10
could what Il would be- He iid aB placed II ~ about
exuty-ivo feet Considering our oy, rAAng ih-A h.!
the calculation enarXSby close since then nave
never gtYen the matter thought And way 'hoil! -
Are we not payiag for II an Instead OF time allow
,pce OF two minutes Or a minute and hat AS eI.
psced We m Eat get. only allowed Ire seconds
Any yachtsman will understand what difference Als
/ makes Ia ms"
It i, understood that at the meeting NJ. nen
/ refused to discuss the subject. but had
Il referred 10 l. schuyler. TIE
only surviving Of the cup wno mas acted % reees
in all the races since tho Amsca won II. Hs decision
muy be looked for today Mr.. Bell stated his case 10
letter which he to eN Commodore Smith yesier "a!
In tue e,ter Mr. Bell said u elec; tina, he desired Only
q aud square race-nothins more lie haa 10 NJ
ton OF using any 80 oy,rhSng 81 tho
draft resulting from increase of ballast mad pro-
waterne len, IT, But for TN. Increased wacr rim,
length tie very rules OF the New-lork Yacht ,iao
! taxed him. that instead OF receylnG "uo
2owaoce Of . mute or Gnv more i've nom sccora
What Thistle Gau-d in Length the Volunteer giInet
nv a smaller handicap In time allowance lie Woni 20.
;s, the I,e Any iasP aSSm were entertained n'
E1-Commodore smith, chairman OF the Cup Commit;
N0T psia. and Ne E Es.
talked the matter over informally last night AZ me Sew
York Club After the meeting Commodore smith >lII
, ~. hn, 5au committee 6ayn discovered TO
a he'll
:. Is there any possibility that til. race will not come
tnins there is no probability that itwon't OF
| he replied.
HE BETTING MEN BLAMED.
Designer Watson ike Mr. Ie. said that the vaterin
length was given simply a matter OF courtesy, aud
drew attention fact that he had been careful 70
qualify the result % his calculation by stating ths he
| Thistle would DO ABOUT" So feet on tho watcrlIne
| lie thinks that the prime movers In the agitt.
ton the betting men. against whose NEEDING
he feel. some Jusuh~be Indignation his opinion II
their arriv. In tais country all concerned win t1e
straightrorwar honorable ami gentlemanly. an their
reservation Of the right OF publishing Tie hstieS hheS
! be questioned. II irksome. it was at ay
rate polite A wel-knowp yachting man re, 's.
the betting are to blame FOR this urn-up; winch
should occurred. ho difference In tue
measurement, worth making song about No;
body suffers by 1t but tho histe people themselves "at
aud half feet is remarkable con cering The pee mar
build OF the boat think the betting shout! te1Fe
the Yacht alone They have hold o; horserat
ing. aa now thay want TO come in and spoil Sport ia
what shOud he maintained sport and purely for tIo
love OF sport II the betting men get much In do Whit
II Will s@ply result IN taS-that they Will drive al gen
| tlcmen ont OF it
There - no doubt that the prepouderance o. pubic
sympathy with MIR Bell aud his friends; and there ~
fortunately. little fear that there will not be an ADJUST
mont satisfactory enough to allow Mr. BELL 10 star. his
beanttui CATER without aud the wu0'
English-s esking world from deep disappointment
| WATSON AND BURGESS MEET.
The Thistle her drydock Erie Basin had - many
visitors IS ever yesterday. looking almost her
best. for she receiving the flashing touches
and will he anoaI again to-day. Her sld'S
yere aiming with the cement and patent "eectr0t